As far as storylines go, 'The Batman' is just a narrative of the wronged fighting the wrongs, yet writer-director Matt Reeves captures your focus from the first minute until the last.
This Batman reboot has a villain that is as formidable, if not more so, than the superhero who is out to get the corrupt. This battle is fascinating to observe because the audience is in constant confusion who to cheer for.
Billionaire Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) is continuing his heroic duties, flaunting a cape and a batman mask to save those in need, but a gruesome murder of the city Mayor (Rupert Penry-Jones) changes his priorities.
Soon after, other powerful men are assassinated, and the story becomes darker, as the culprit plants cryptic messages for Batman to unravel with each murder. While doing so, the Riddler (Paul Dano) exposes dark and disturbing secrets about the two most influential families in Gotham City, both of which have a significant linkage to Batman.
There is rarely a scene in daylight, and with a deranged serial murderer on the prowl who employs novel methods of murder, it is reminiscent of Hollywood's cult classics such as 'Se7en.'
The villain is a vigilante whose name is unknown, but his motivation is clear - “No More Lies.” Stopping him appears difficult because he is one level ahead of law enforcement and the film's hero, who is frequently summoned to the murder scene by investigating officer James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), much to the dismay of his colleagues.
However, Reeves and his co-writer (Peter Craig) ensure that there are enough story twists to keep audiences interested.
The action unfolds in a natural and predictable manner. The sleekest Batmobile yet - a muscular car - plays a key role in one of the film's most action-packed sequences.
It's a complex automobile race and chain-reaction wreck that culminates in an upside-down scene of ferocious rage that has the viewers clapping throughout the screening.
You can sense every strike and kick during a confrontation at a booming nightclub with throbbing red lighting. This is one of the perks of seeing this superhero in his early phase; he isn't unstoppable.
The score by experienced composer Michael Giacchino amplifies the impact of sequences like this. It is built on a rousing character theme that matches the film's title. The most intriguing bit of the roughly seven-minute-long tune feels like it's in a relatively close crescendo, slogging along with an irresistible auditory intensity.
The steady pace will stick with you, but the song also has sweeping, heroic lengths and quiet, sad passages that recall the instantaneously tear-inducing emotions.
Matt Reeves' deep, tragic film is encapsulated in a single song that simultaneously uplifts and tears you up.
It becomes a film about the weight of heritage, about hope and despair, and the complicated act of living in a society where horrible things happen as a result of it. Because Robert Pattinson's Batman is a man of limited words, and the Riddler remains silent and disguised for much of the film, the soundtrack works as an interpreter for them.
‘Sonata in Darkness,’ the album's final tune, might have easily been a generic closing credits soundtrack, but instead it's a musical composition so sweet and sophisticated that it gives you goosebumps.
The film has a prolonged runtime and no humorous relief because the darkness is uniformly distributed throughout, but you won't be complaining. Before the big disclosure, there’s adequate suspense to keep you guessing.
Pattinson plays a magnificently torn Batman, and he compels by going stripped for a bit, as is customary in Batman movie tradition.
Reeves was inspired by Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain for mind mapping the Batman, and it reflects in Pattinson's messy hair and troubled, possessed expression. Even in the most catastrophic situations, he maintains his cool.
He looks incredibly dashing and powerful in the suit, and equally weak and gloomy without it. He has a captivating charisma that is difficult to resist.
Zoe Kravitz excels as the elegant and enigmatic Selina, who flawlessly transforms into the Catwoman character. Colin Farrell is unidentifiable as Penguin, yet he is the only one who injects some humor into the film's otherwise gruesome story spine.
Reeves' vision is conveyed through Gotham City's dark aesthetics, which plays an important role in the immersive world building for a magnificent movie-watching experience. In many respects, this Batman seems more personal than the ones we're used to.
'The Batman' is the intensely fascinating, violent thriller that it seeks out to be from the start. While similarities to Christopher Nolan's 'The Dark Knight' series are unavoidable, they are also unjust.
This is a stand-alone film that has all you need for a lusciously dark mindbender starring the caped crusader, who is much more relatable than ever.
